During Black History Month, 4th Infantry Brigade wants to celebrate the contributions soldiers of colour bring to the British Army in the North East, through a series of short reads, highlighting how these men and women continue to reach their full potential and make the team stronger through their diversity.
Staff Sergeant Eric Asare, originally from Ghana, has been in the British Army for 16 years and thoroughly enjoys his role as Lead Health Care Assistant (HCA) and City and Guilds Coordinator at his North East unit, Joint Hospital Medical Group (North). Eric has maximised the opportunities offered to him as a soldier of colour by attending trade and leadership courses. A passionate BAME advocate, he is currently partaking in a reverse mentoring programme with a senior officer. He acknowledges that the army has provided him with opportunities to fulfil his potential and he invites other men and women of colour to join him in the Regular or Reserve British Army.
Sargent Ben Poku, a Ghanaian soldier from Joint Medical Group (North), has been in the British Army for 20 years, currently serving as a COVID-19 Triage Nurse Advisor within the Occupational Health Department at South Tees NHS Foundation Trust at the James Cook Hospital, confirms that his inspiration to join came from his ancestors who fought with might in the King’s African Rifles of the British Empire during World War II. Proud of his heritage and grateful for the opportunities the British Army has forged him, Ben recognises that his ancestors could have only dreamt of his achievements decades later in the British Army.
Lieutenant ‘H’ of Asian heritage from a North East Military Intelligence Reserve unit joined the British Army at university by entering the University Officers’ Training Corps. This opened the door to a world of opportunities and adventure; from assault courses, weapon training and battle drills to black-tie dinners and having a go at fencing for the first time. He wanted more from the Army and ceased the opportunity to combine his computer science degree with his raw talent as a young leader, commissioning as a Reserve Military Intelligence Officer. He is now a role model for other men and women of colour in the North East.
Corporal Onika Griffith originally from the Caribbean, has enjoyed the diverse opportunities offered by Regular and Reserve service. Onika initially joined the Regulars as a Combat Medical Technician where she served in Germany as part of 1 Medical Regiment, deploying to Afghanistan. Onika then chose to have a 6-year pause becoming a reservist of 207 Field Hospital while concurrently training as a nurse. Onika has been a Regular soldier since August 2020 and enjoys her role as an Emergency Department nurse at Joint Hospital Group (North). She has fulfilled her lifelong ambition to become an army nurse.
Corporal Muhammad Ashraf Brown, defines himself as mixed race, with a mother who is Singaporean Malay and a Welsh father. Ash, initially joined the Officer Training Corps during university, where he had the opportunity to compete in the internationally recognised “Op Cambrian Patrol”, a competition that tests all forms of military skills such as navigation, section attacks and battlefield casualty drills. This challenging and unique experience led him to join the Regular army in February this year. Ash is currently serving as a trauma orthopaedic nurse. He has his sights set on new challenges at his unit Joint Hospital Group (North) where he will compete in cross country running and Nordic skiing.
Assembled and edited by Maj Helen De Montes, SO2 D&I HQ 4 Inf Bde. Helen.Demontes597@mod.gov.uk
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